Meat companies investing in plant-based options praised

Meat companies investing in plant-based options are being praised by the industry for their initiative.

This comes after Dunedin's Craft Meat Company announced it's launching a new no meat mince, made out of things like mushrooms, almonds and soy protein.

Beef and Lamb NZ chief executive Rod Slater says it's good a meat company can recognise the market for alternatives.

"I think it's someone in the industry is showing initiative and recognising what is quite probably significant high consumer demand, so I take my hat off to them."

He doesn't think the product will reduce demand for traditional mince.

"So I think it just adds to the repertoire that is available. I don't care that it's not traditional mince at all, and I don't think they do either as a meat company. I think it recognises that there are consumers out there who want to try something meat free and this is a very good alternative."